By this time the fat man, who was being assisted by Eradicate had reached the top of the gang plank.  He must have been expected, for several friends rushed to greet him, and for a moment there was a confusing little throng at the place where the passengers came abroad.  Tom and Ned hurried up, intent on getting a closer view of the man and youth who seemed so anxious to escape observation.

But several persons got in their way. and the two mysterious ones taking advantage of the confusion, slipped down a companionway to their stateroom, so that when our two lads managed to extricate themselves from the throng around the fat man, who insisted on thanking them for allowing Eradicate to help him, it was too late to effect any identification, at least for the time being.

“But we’ll go to the purser,” said Tom.  “If Andy and his father are on this steamer we want to know it.”

“That’s right,” agreed Ned.

Just then there was the usual cry: 

“All ashore that’s going ashore!  Last warning!”

A bell rang, there was a hoarse whistle, the rattle of the gangplank being drawn in, a quiver through the whole length of the ship, and Tom cried: 

“We’re off!”

“Yes,” added Ned, “if Andy and his father are here it’s too late to leave them behind now!”

CHAPTER X

MYSTERIOUS PASSENGERS

Ned and Tom did not escape the usual commotion that always attends the sailing of a large steamer.  The people on the dock were waving farewells to those on the boat, and those on the deck of the Maderia shook their handkerchiefs, their steamer rugs, their hands, umbrellas—­in short anything to indicate their feelings.  It was getting dark, but big electric lights made the dock and the steamer’s deck brilliantly aglow.

The big whistle was blowing at intervals to warn other craft that the steamer was coming out of her slip.  Fussy little tugs were pushing their blunt noses against the sides of the Maderia to help her and, in brief, there was not a little excitement.

“Bless my steamer chair!” exclaimed Mr. Damon.  “We’re really off at last!  And now for the land of—­”

“Hush!” exclaimed Tom, who stood near the odd gentleman.  “You’re forgetting.  Some one might hear you.”

“That’s so, Tom.  Bless my soul!  I’ll keep quiet after this.”

“Mah golly!” gasped Eradicate as he saw the open water between the ship and the deck, “I can’t git back now if I wanter—­but I doan’t wanter.  I hope yo’ father takes good care ob Boomerang, Massa Tom.”

“Oh, I guess he will.  But come on, Ned, we’ll go to the purser’s office now.”

“What for?  Is something wrong?” asked Mr. Damon.

“No, we just want to see if—­er—­if some friends of ours are on board,” replied the young inventor, with a quick glance at his chum.

“Very well,” assented Mr. Damon.  “I’ll wait for you on deck here.  It’s quite interesting to watch the sights of the harbor.”